| European Championships Gothenburg Michael Rimmer has had the most fantastic year of his athletic life. At the beginning of 2006 he was a relatively promising but unknown athlete. In August he had reached the final of the European 800m Championships. On the way he had chopped 3 seconds off his personal best time, claimed the national senior title and had notched several significant  Michael Rimmer performances overseas against international opposition. In the European Championships at Gothenburg he looked fantastic in the opening round recording the fastest time. He struggled a bit in the semis but emerged as one of the fastest losers. In the final there was everything to play for but a slow run first lap did not help. It was clearly a tactical race. The field was packed with 200m to go when Michael was badly balked. By the time he extricated himself the leaders were away. He made a spirited effort on the final bend drawing alongside team mate Sam Ellis(Barnsley) but as Ellis stormed through to breach a wall of runners and grab bronze Rimmer was left adrift at the rear(1.47.66). Clearly Michael was hugely disappointed especially as the winning medallist times were well within his reach but he will reflect on an amazing 6 months when he has transformed himself into an athlete of international standing. The intrepid trio of Richard Hills(Nottingham), Sam Ellis and Michael Rimmer have set the athletic world alight this season with talk of a middle distance renaissance. Each has had his moment of glory but collectively they are taking the event into a new dimension. Next season looks even more promising. LPS is enormously proud of Michael Rimmer. He has spent 7 years with us coming through the ranks. John Bradshaw did an amazing job coaching him to national titles and then agreed his career would be better advanced with Norman Poole in Manchester. This is now held up as as an outstanding example of coach cooperation. Michael has certainly prospered under the new regime. Club officers, coaches and fellow athletes congratulate Michael on his success and wish him well as his sights turn towards the 2008 Olympics |
| A silver and 2 bronze medals 5 August Andre Bowen is delighted he switched his event earlier in the year to the 1500m Steeplechase. Regularly he has reduced his personal best and last weekend was no exception as he ran 4.28.4. The big joy here though was that it was in the AAA of England Under 17 Championships in Birmingham and it carried him to the silver medal. The Liverpool Pembroke Sefton athlete was not alone as club colleague Harry Doran collected a bronze in the 400m race with a tremendous 50.06 but his personal best had come a little earlier in the semi-finals when he ran a brilliant 49.9. He joins the expanding ranks of LPS athletes who have ducked under the magic 50 seconds. Also on the rostrum was Jake Helm. A few weeks earlier he had been invited to join a training camp for the country`s most promising endurance runners. This was obviously an inspirational experience for him and he hacked a huge 6 seconds off his personal best in the Under 15 1500m with a time of 4.11.79, also a bronze medal effort. While all eyes have naturally been on the club`s most outstanding runner, Michael Rimmer, as he chases 800m international glory the next phase of talented local runners are quietly making their way through the ranks. Report Charles Gains |
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